Tue, Feb 09, 2010
Subscribe to the Arizona Daily Star now!
Comments on this Story

Small-hospital angioplasties not as risky as feared

CHICAGO — Is it safe to have your arteries unclogged at a hospital that lacks heart surgeons who can operate if something goes wrong?
1. Comment by Carrot C. (CarrotCake) — March 30,2008 @ 1:06AM
Ratings:   -0 +0

Bad idea to allow angioplasties in non-emergency situations.

It's not always known if an angioplasty is even necessary, and if performed on the wrong patient, the procedure itself could kill or cause them serious side effects or permanent injury.

If it isn't an emergency, there are a number of tests and diagnosing procedures that should always be done first, before any medical procedure.

Angioplasties are over-performed by heart specialists now, as a way to increase their income.

What do you think small hospitals will do? Especially if you have health insurance or Medicare, which cover angioplasties. (Dollar signs in the doctors and hospital's eyes.)

I had a heart specialist, that kept trying to push an angioplasty on me, before doing all the necessary tests to determine the cause of my painful, increasing angina attacks. I refused. Said it would be my last choice, until more tests were run.

Turns out, an angioplasty would have put me in real danger for the type of heart ailments I have. People have died from the procedure, or complications later. Anything invasive to one's body, should be the last choice, unless it's an emergency.

I ended up diagnosing the cause of the angina attacks myself. Some heart specialist, who was also a surgeon. I was just a money making procedure to them. They could have cared less about making a proper diagnosis first.

Report this comment

Leave a Comment

You are not logged in

Login or Register to comment
Letter to the editor You may also write a letter to the editor.